12 Home Remedies for Cough That Actually Work!

There’s almost nothing worse than having a nagging cough, no matter if it’s dry, wet, or whooping. Whatever the type may be, all coughs are terrible in my book, especially when coughing at night or not being able to breathe properly.

So, if you’re suffering from hacking hysteria and want to know how to get rid of a cough fast, then you’re in luck because today we’re going over 12 of the best natural remedies for cough and how to use them!

12 Home Remedies for Cough That Actually Work

Believe it or not, coughing is actually good for us as it’s our body’s way of keeping the lungs clean and free of irritants, allergens, and mucus. While that may be fine and dandy most of the time, sometimes you just can’t take it anymore and will do just about anything to get rid of it – even knock back some whiskey!

Today, we’ll go over some of my favorite natural remedies for cough that are quick and easy to throw together so that you can get relief fast. And the best part? These remedies actually work, so don’t worry about trying to find the best ones, they’re all right here.

Types of Cough

In order to use these remedies most effectively, you will, of course, need to know what type of cough you have. Doing this is quite easy!

Home Remedies for Cough – Dry Cough

This type of cough is super irritating to deal with because there is an incessant tickle in the throat that causes you to cough constantly. Sometimes the force of dry coughing makes you gag and it is almost always worse at night.

A dry cough is typically caused by an infection in the upper respiratory system as a result of the common cold. Post nasal drip can exacerbate symptoms and a “chesty cough” or “mucus cough” may follow as the cold progresses.

Dry cough is accompanied by symptoms of:

Nagging tickle in the throat
No mucus or phlegm
The chest feels clear with no or little wheezing or congestion
The cough sounds dry and can feel painful
Cough is worse at night or when laying down
Muscles of the chest and back may feel sore from the force of constant coughing (a good massage can help loosen up muscles and restore comfort)

How to Stop a Dry Cough

1. Hydration

First and foremost is hydration!

Keeping the soft tissues of your throat well hydrated will help with some of the irritation and tickling sensations you experience with a dry cough. Drink plenty of water, herbal tea, or consume brothy meals to keep yourself hydrated.

I like to refer to this unpleasant type of cough as “the lung grunge” because wet coughs are gross and mucusy.

Most people, when faced with a wet cough, will immediately reach for an OTC cough suppressant.

DON’T.

That is the last thing you should do for this type of cough! Not only will you be keeping all that germ-filled mucus in your lungs, but you’ll also be well on your way to potentially developing a much worse infection as a result. Using cough suppressants is what can give you pneumonia. So, don’t do it!

Symptoms of wet cough include:

A heavy, boggy feeling in the lungs
Copious amounts of phlegm and mucus
Mucus that is clear, white, green, or brown
Wheezing or difficulty breathing
Worse in the morning

How to Stop a Wet Cough

The best way to get rid of this type of cough is to keep expectorating and keeping the lungs as clear as possible. This may go against everything you know about treating coughs like bronchitis or croup but believe me, you don’t want to keep infected mucus in the lungs any longer than the few hours while you’re asleep.

1. Hydration

Once again, it’s important to keep up your hydration levels no matter what type of cough you have, including a wet one.

Drinking enough water, herbal teas, or drinking broth will ensure that expectoration is as easy as possible. Without enough hydration, you will quickly find that your coughs are less productive and that the mucus may be thicker. I know it sounds gross, but this is why you need to stay hydrated!

2. Expectorant Herbs

Taking herbs that will encourage the lungs to release mucus is going to be the fastest way to get rid of a chesty cough.

I recommend making a strong ginger tea and drinking it throughout the day while taking the other herbs as tinctures in a little bit of water for best results. Bee balm is a tasty tea as well if you can find it!

Eating spicy foods is another great way to help expectorate stubborn mucus, so be sure you add some cayenne to your food as is comfortable.

A Few More Natural Remedies for Cough

Aside from my tried and true natural remedies for cough above, there are of course a few other things you can incorporate to relieve symptoms and get well faster.

Honey

Taking raw honey either by the spoonful or mixed in your favorite tea (I love it in homemade ginger tea) is a great way to coat irritated throat tissues and is especially handy for dry coughs.

Fresh Lemon Juice

Lemons are naturally expectorant, so these bright little beauties are perfect for when you need an extra boost that helps you expectorate phlegm and mucus.

They’re also high in Vitamin C which is exactly what you need when dealing with a cold or flu!

I like to steep a few fresh slices of lemon in boiling water (covered) and drink it as a tea. Add some raw honey to make it extra soothing.

Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry syrup is an excellent herbal remedy for fighting cold and flu and while it isn’t directly linked to getting rid of a cough, it will boost and strengthen your immune system so that your body can get rid of illness faster.

To use these essential oils, you can either add a couple of drops each to a personal nasal inhaler, a diffuser, or add 1 drop of each to 1/2oz of carrier oil and use it as a massage oil for the chest and back.

What have been your best home remedies for cough? Please share them in the comments below!

Thank you for this list Tash – I was happy to see that it included options above and beyond the baseline lists I usually come across (especially appreciated the whiskey part being I am Irish and all lol).